Histological and immunohistochemical study on the effect of hypo and hypercaloric diet on the structure of hippocampus of male albino rat

ABSTRACT

Caloric restriction remains the major, non genetic intervention that extends the life span of the short and long -lived mammalian species. This nutritional intervention also delays the onset, or slows the progression of many age-related disease processes. The present study investigated the effect of hypocaloric diet, in comparison to the hypercaloric and the balanced diet feeding on the structure of hippocampus. The study was conveyed on young and aged male albino rats for eight weeks. Showed that the aged control rats manifested many degenerative changes in the hippocampus. These changes were in the form of degenerated pyramidal cells with pyknotic nuclei and Karyolysis of some cells. A significant decrease in the pyramidal cell number was detected with a significant compensatory increase in the number of the astrocytes. Shrinkage of some pyramidal cells and swelling of others could be observed. Hypercaloric diet feeding resulted in exaggeration of these age -related changes that started to be noticed in the young rats. On the other hand hypocaloric diet feeding attenuated the age-related hippocampal changes. This was evidenced by histological, immunohistochemical, and statistical studies. These results direct our attention to limit the caloric intake in our food, to maintain a healthy life style for safe aging